Horn for automobiles or other vehicles.



F. NASILLO.

Patented May 9,1916.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

rnANcIscO NAs'ILLo, or BROOKLYN, NEW YpnK.

HORN ron AUTOMOBILES OR OTHER VEHICLES.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANCISCO NASILLO, a subject of the King of Italy, and a resident of Brooklyn, inthe county of Kings and y 5 State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Horns for Automobiles or other Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to horns for automobiles or other vehicles.-

The principal object of this invention is to provide a horn of the above character which is simple in construction and may be manufactured'at a-low cost.

A further object is to provide a horn which is manually Operated and which emits a sharp, piercing, sustained sound, the sound continuing for 'an appreciable length of time after the operator has released the operating means.

Further objects and advantages willmore fully appear from the following detailed description and the features of novelty will be articularly pointed out in the clalms.

n the drawings illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross sectional ele vation of my improved horn. Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section'taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 with the operating handle. 30

shown extended laterally in position to flex -3he spring. Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a fragmental rear elevation of the horn with the operating handle shown in the position in which the spring is placed under tension.

Referring particularly to the drawings, 'my improved horn comprises the usualresonator 10 having an annular flange 11 ex- ..tendingstherefrom, to which is suitably fastened, as by screws 12, a circular casing 13. Bound between the resonator and casing is a metallic diaphra m 14. Securely fastened to substantiallytl le center of the diaphragm is a contactor, which by the impingement thereon of a metallic knocker causes the vibration of the diaphragm thereby producing a, piercing note. This contactor comprises a beveled head 15 which constitutes the contactor proper, and a comparatively thin arm extending therefrom. The arm is suitably riveted to the diaphragm at two spaced points 16, 17, but is slightly spaced thereom at those points by suitable means, such Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 9, 1916.

Application filed June 4, 1915. Serial No. 32,042.

utilized in increasing the speed of contact between the contactor and knocker. In this way the note emitted from the horn is rendered very piercing and sustained.

The knocker referred to is a circular rack 19, which is formed integral and concentric with a comparatively massive fly wheel 20', and at all times contacts with the contactor 15. The fly wheel is rotatably mounted upon a horizontal shaft 21. The latter is suitably journaled in a vertical frame 22, which is fastened within the casing 13 by means of screws 23.

The frame 22 is placed adjacent the outer end of the casing, and is of such width as to leave room for the fly wheel on the outside thereof within the casing. The fly wheel is prevented from sliding off the shaft by means of a screw 24, which is screwed longitudinally into the end of the shaft, and a washer 25. The fly wheel is also formed with a hub 26, and is kept in its vertical plane upon the shaft by means of a ratchet wheel 27, which is suitably fixed upon the shaft between the frame 22 and the hub. This function of the ratchet wheel, is, however, only' incidental, the main function thereof being to cooperate with a pawl 28, which is suitably fastened to the fly wheel, and other mechanism to be described,in imparting rotary motion to the fly wheel, and thereby the knocker 19.

The motive power employed to' produce 29, which surrounds the shaft within the frame 22. The spring is secured at one end.

to the shaft, and at the other to the frame, at 30 and 31, respectively. The compression of the spring is effected manually, and to this end, the shaft is formed of such a length as to extend beyond the frame and through an aperture in the center of a cover 32, which closes the casing. -Adjacent the outer end of the shaft, on the outside of the cover, is formed a squared portion 33, upon which is mounted a handle 34 having a corresponding square aperture. Any suitable means may be employed to secure the handle to the shaft. Thus, a nut 35 may be screwed to the The handle nor- 35 extending from i the cover.

In operating the horn, the handle 3% is turned through an arc of a circle, or the whole 360 to the other side of the projection, if desired, thus compressing the spring As the ratchet wheel 27 18 fixed to the sha t it turns therewith, while the fly wheel remains idle, the pawl 28, which is maintained in contact with the teeth of the ratchet wheel by means of a spring 36, slipping past the same. When the handle is released, the resultant recoil of the spring causes the same to fly back to its normal position, while an impulse is imparted to the fly wheel through the agency of the pawl and ratchet, causing it to revolve with great speed and so continues for an appreciable length of time after the release of the handle. As the fly wheel rotates, each tooth of the rack, constituting an individual knocker, im: pinges successively upon the contactor and causes it to vibrate at a great rate of speed. This vibration being communicated to the diaphragm, there is produced a piercing, sustained note, which pedestrians and others could not fail to note and heed.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a horn which is very simple in construction, easy of operation, and cheap to manufacture. The source of power is connected directly with the knockers, so that intermediate gearing and other complicating parts are eliminated, and the liability of the device getting out of order is materially reduced. Great speed may be imparted to the knockers with but slight manual effort, and the note emitted is very sharp, piercing, and sustained.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A horn comprising a resonator, a casing, a diaphragm disposed between said casing and resonator, a beveled contactor secured to said diaphragm, a shaft mounted in said'casing, a fly wheel 'rotatably mounted upon said shaft adjacent the diaphragm, a rack formed upon the fly wheel and contact ing with said contactor,'a spring, one end of which is attached to the shaft and the other to the casing, a handle secured to the shaft for turning the 'latter' against the tension of said springwithout actuating the fly wheel, and means "for transmitting the motion of the shaft to thefly wheel when the handle is releasedto cause the vibration of the diaphragm whereby a note is emitted. 2. A horn comprising a resonator, "a casing, a diaphrag'indisposed between said casing and resonator, a contactor secured to said diaphragm, a shaft mounted upon said casing, a fly wheel rotatably mounted upon said shaft adjacent the diaphragm',a"c1rcuthe shaft for turning lar rack formed uponithe riy wheel and contacting with said contactor, a spring, one end of which is attached to the shaft and the other to the casing,a handle secured to the latter against the tension of said spring, a ratchet secured to said shaft, a pawl pivoted to the fly wheel cooperating with said ratchet, said ratchet imparting the impulse of recoil of the spring to the fly wheel when the handle is released, whereby continuous impingement of the contactor is effected, and a piercing note emitted. i 3. A horn comprising a resonator, a casing, a diaphragm disposed between said casing and resonator, a contactor secured to said diaphragm: said contactor comprising casing, longitudinally thereof, a fly wheel rotatably mounted upon said shaft, a circular rack formed upon one face of said fly wheel concentrically thereof, said rack con tacting with said contactor, a spiral spring mounted upon said shaft, means for compressing said spring, and means for transmitting the impulse of the recoil of the spring, when the latter is released, to the fly wheel whereby motion is imparted therefrom, said head and arm being spaced from said diaphragm, a shaft mounted within the mounted upon said shaft, a rack formed upon one face of casing, a fly wheel rotatably said fly wheel, a spring mounted upon said shaft. one end of which is secured to said shaft and the other end to the casing, a handle secured to said shaft for turning the same and compressing the spring, and

resonator, a contactor secured to anarm extending there;

means for imparting the'impulse of the recoil of the spring,

tactor is vibrated by said rack, and a piercing note is emitted from the horn. ,j

5. A horn comprising a resonator, a cas ing, a diaphragm disposed between said case ing and resonator, a contactor secured to said diaphragm, said contactor comprising a. head and an arm extending therefrom, said head and arm being spaced from said. diaphragm, a shaft mounted within the 'casing, a.-. fl vtvheel. rotatably mounted upon said shaft, rack formed upousaid fly. wheel, a spring mounted upon Said shaft, one end of which is secured to said shaft and-the other end to'the casing, anoperating lever secured to said shaft for turning. the same against the tension. of the spring, a ratchet Wheel secured to said shaft, a pawl pivotally mounted upon said flywheel and cooperatingwith said ratchet, said ratchet when the 'handle .is ref leased, to the fly wheel whereby said con- I and pawl serving to transmit the impulse Kings and State of New York, this 1st day 011th recoil of tile s irinig, flier; tlmi lelvei is of June, A, D. 1915. reieznmi, to the i. y W nee, W 14310 vy tie atter is made to revolve at great speed and the FLANCISLU NASILLO' 5 diaphragm vibrated whereby a, piercing Witnesws:

note is; muitted from the hori i. VINCENT BUGGIERO,

Signed at Brooklyn, in the county of ERNESTO Smv. 

